2003 Toyota Sequoia SR5 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe stability-control and traction-control warning lights coming on, frequently together with a grinding noise, a brief loss of power, or the vehicle slowing on its own — especially at low speed while turning or pulling away from a stop. Many complaints report that the dealer pointed to the skid control ECU or yaw sensor and quoted repairs in the hundreds to thousands of dollars, and several say the warning lights returned after repairs. A smaller but consistent group describes frame and rear axle housing rust, and some report hesitation or delay in acceleration.

1. 1
   Electronic stability control

   VSC/TRAC warning lights with grinding or power loss

   • 76 complaints (71%)
   • median 92,220 mi at 7.7 yrs old (67 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,400 (median of 23 quotes)
   • filed 2009–2019

   Complaints describe the VSC, TRAC, TRAC OFF and sometimes ABS or brake lights coming on together, often after a grinding or clunking noise from underneath and a brief cut in power or acceleration. Owners say it happens during low-speed turns, pulling out of a driveway, or pulling away from a stop, and that restarting the vehicle sometimes clears the lights for a while before they return. According to the complaints, dealers typically attributed it to the skid control ECU or the yaw rate sensor and quoted several hundred to a few thousand dollars, and some owners report the lights returning after a repair. Reports span a wide mileage range, from under 50,000 to over 200,000 miles, and are commonly linked to turning, driveway maneuvers, or accelerating from a stop rather than to a particular climate.

   What to check: Ask whether the skid control ECU or yaw sensor has been replaced and whether the warning lights have come back afterward; on a test drive, watch the dash for VSC/TRAC lamps while turning slowly and pulling away from a stop.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving and all of a sudden my check engine, vsc off, and the vsc trac lights came on and they won't turn off. Took it in to Toyota dealer service the following date and they said it was an intermittent problem with the ecu and skid ecu computer board and that it may fix it? Is there a recall on this issue would like to know.”

   NHTSA complaint #10650049, filed 2014-10, 92,220 miles

   “Started up the vehicle and the ABS brake light, the vcs off light and the vcs trac light all came on simultaneously. We've had the factory recall for aog vehicle stability control system, skid control ecu update done, and now we're told it will be $500 to replace the yaw-acceleration stability control . This is a very common safety problem, and should be covered by a recall, it happens a lot!”

   NHTSA complaint #10341035, filed 2010-07, 90,354 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Stability/traction system engaging and slowing the vehicle

   Mentioned in 12 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the vehicle braking or cutting power on its own when there is little or no wheel slip — for example making a slight turn on an incline, turning into a driveway, or pulling out into traffic. Complaints mention the vehicle slowing sharply enough to hold up traffic, a delayed or missing response to the accelerator for several seconds, and in some cases a shudder before the vehicle moves again. Several owners say dealers could not reproduce the problem or told them the system needed computer replacement. Reported from under 50,000 to over 150,000 miles, usually in low-speed turning or pulling-away situations, with no clear climate pattern.

   What to check: During a test drive, pay attention to any unexpected braking or hesitation when turning at low speed or accelerating from a stop, and ask if the ECU update or replacement work noted in the complaints has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vsc and trac lights started coming after a clucking sound heard from underneath the car followed by a loss of power. After turning the car off and back on again it goes away. But it comes back intermittently. The problem needs to be fixed. I am concerned about the safety of my family as we will need to go on a long family trip in a few weeks. Please help.”

   NHTSA complaint #10661046, filed 2014-11, 101,000 miles

   “While driving I came to a stop and when put my foot back on the gas the vsc trac light came on and also the skid light. It made a grinding noise, then when I hit the gas it would not accelerate. This is a scary feeling!!! What can be done about this?!! Seems to me it's more then just me exprencing this!!!”

   NHTSA complaint #10653249, filed 2014-11, 170,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   ABS and brake lights with brake shudder or reduced braking

   • 37 complaints (35%)
   • median 90,354 mi at 7.7 yrs old (33 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,450 (median of 16 quotes)
   • filed 2009–2019

   Complaints describe the ABS, brake, VSC and TRAC lights illuminating together or intermittently, sometimes with front-end shaking under braking, a grinding noise, or the vehicle pulling to one side. Owners say dealers replaced the skid control ECU, wheel speed sensors, brake booster or yaw sensor, with some reporting that the symptoms came back after the repair. A few describe the ABS not activating during a hard stop. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 170,000 miles, in ordinary driving and braking situations with no consistent weather pattern.

   What to check: Check whether the ABS lamp comes on during a test drive, ask about any prior skid control ECU, booster or sensor replacements, and have the braking system inspected if pedal feel or stopping feels uneven.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Toyota sequoia 2003 85,000 miles. Skid control unit is bad. My ABS, trac lights are on. Every so often my brake light will go on too. The brake light will resolve by turning off engine and start again. Other lights stay on. Asked Toyota dealer. They gave me a price of $2600 to fix the problem. They said I need a new skid control and decal sensor.”

   NHTSA complaint #10287010, filed 2009-10, 85,366 miles

   “The skid control ecu on my 2003 Toyota sequoia recently started intermittently reporting failure via parking warning light and disables the ABS system. Recently we were driving at highway speeds and it disabled itself as we were braking. There was a TSB br006-06 put out by Toyota to replace the ecu in 2006 only if the customer reported the problem. It was a known logic problem with the ecu. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10291531, filed 2009-11, 56,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Frame and rear axle housing rust

   • 11 complaints (10%)
   • median 120,000 mi at 9.1 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2011–2018

   Owners report rust perforating the frame, in some cases until the rear frame section separates at the stabilizer bar mount or develops large holes. Complaints also describe the rear axle housing leaking oil through deteriorated welds. Several owners note that they were told the frame has rusted from the inside out and that the vehicle's frame is shared with a truck that has been covered by a recall. Reported mostly over 100,000 miles, often on vehicles used in snowy or road-salt regions; some complaints mention rust discovered during routine service.

   What to check: Inspect the frame rails and rear axle housing underneath for flaking rust, holes or oil seepage, and ask whether any rust-preventive treatment has been applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The frame in my 2003 Toyota sequoia is rusting out, I have been in contact with Toyota and the representative informed me Toyota is only responsible for 3 years 36 moths for the frame. I do believe this is very similar to the problem that ford had with the windstar. I hope it wont take a fatality to correct this problem!!!!”

   NHTSA complaint #10390090, filed 2011-03, 75,000 miles

   “I received a recall notice from Toyota for undercarriage rusting. I took my vehicle to the dealership for treatment. They kept the vehicle overnight and I picked it up the next day. Six months later (I'm not sure exactly when it happened because we have more than one vehicle), while driving the sequoia, which I never had problems with before, I smelled something burning as I drove the vehicle and thought that with the new treatment it was just burning off the excess. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10668619, filed 2014-12, 270,000 miles
5. 5
   Other or unknown

   Hesitation or delay in acceleration

   • 15 complaints (14%)
   • median 97,537 mi at 7.7 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2015

   Owners describe a pause of several seconds after pressing the accelerator, particularly when pulling away from a stop or after slowing for a turn, followed by the vehicle moving or accelerating abruptly. Some complaints mention the engine light or VSC light coming on at the same time, and owners say dealers replaced the ECU, throttle body or an air/fuel sensor with mixed results. Reported from around 49,000 to about 140,000 miles, typically after a stop or slowdown in traffic; dates cluster in cold and warm months without a clear pattern.

   What to check: Ask whether the ECU reprogramming noted in the complaints was performed, and during a test drive check for any lag between pressing the accelerator and the vehicle moving from a stop.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own an early model 2003 Toyota sequoia, I had the vsc, ESC and engine light activation, the car intermittently will not accelerate at the most dangerous times, is inconsistent and seems as though power is cut to the axle so I cannot pull away. I am aware of the recall and called toyotas hotline. They told me that the car was included in the recall and that I would get a letter for service in late may. Late may came and went and I waited until mid june for the letter and then called again when it didn't arrive. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10343575, filed 2010-07, 90,000 miles

   “2003 Toyota sequoia will unexpectedly loose power when turning and then acceleration races up after a long pause. This has happened about once per month since purchasing the vehicle in 2003 and has several times resulted in near-miss crashes from approaching traffic as the vehicle will not move out of the way of oncoming traffic.”

   NHTSA complaint #10311093, filed 2010-02, 60,000 miles

Buying note. Given how many complaints center on the stability and traction systems, it is worth confirming that the skid control ECU and yaw sensor work has been done and that no warning lamps come on during a test drive. Also look underneath at the frame and rear axle housing for rust, since that is expensive to address if it is advanced.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.